Norway's Most Notorious Musician to be Released From Prison

by dsussmanMarch 11, 2009 at 5:30PM
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Norwegian black metal legend Varg Vikernes, who murdered Mayhem guitarist Øystein Aarseth and set three churches on fire, will be released on parole after having served almost 16 years of a 21-year prison sentence.

Best known as the mastermind of the band Burzum, Vikernes was also a far-right political activist. Though he was refused parole four times already, Vikernes recently told Daglabet magazine that he is now set to be a free man. In an interview last July, Vikernes stressed that he is "ready for society" and has "been for many years." He also admitted that he had "learned from" his "mistakes."

"I look forward the day that I [can] work on my farm, create music, write books and be with the wife and kids around the clock — and live a normal life," he said.

Though Vikernes will no longer be bound by prison schedules, he will have to regularly report to a parole officer, intially for every two weeks and then once a month. Count Grishnackh plans to move to a small farm near Bø and says he no longer has any ties with far-right Norwegian groups.